ND DOT ROAD REPORT WEBSITE

The crisis communication of keeping people aware of travel conditions around Barnes county. The DOT and sheriffs department did a good job on keeping people safe on the roads after the rains gave way the snow which caused major flooding which washed out culverts that couldn't keep up with the water going into them. And places where the water could not pass through it simply went over roads causing dangerous situations. People where well aware of the roads closed by be able to look up on the DOT website of road closures. http://www.dot.nd.gov/roadreport/roadreport/roadreport.asp It gave people a place to look up before even trying to venture out. I know I relied on this website when i needed to get to Fargo when they were flooding to help my sister. It took me a long time to get there but if i would of just left and tried to find my own way I wont of been able to make it there on a tank of gas and probably would of been stuck somewhere. This website helped allot of people through the winter and especially through this flood season. I think this is a good way to help motorist during a crisis.

Road Trouble in Barnes County

Spring of 09 in Barnes County came at use with a bang. After the rains came on the week of the march 24 the snow gave way to massive overland flooding. This caused major damages to the roads in Barnes County. This was a very serious situation for the DOT, Law enforcement, rural residents, and motorists they needed to block these roads for the safety of drivers. It was a mad rush to get barriers in place, rural residents where using farm implements to block the less traveled back roads that were under water or washed out. The sheriff Gene Bjerke was using the radio and News paper to tell motorist to be cautious when driving in rural Barnes County. The DOT was using their website to show the road closures that were blocked. The sheriff’s department where warning drivers to obey the closure signs and if not they will face fines if caught. These roads being under water and washed can appear without warning and in most cases it’s too late for the motorist. Vehicles can hydro plain on standing water and may throw your vehicle uncontrollable, and in washed out roads you can just imagine what could happen. The roads in Barnes County may be out for many weeks before they get to all these roads to repair and the cost of repairs will be very high. Some of the farms are using boats to get out due to water blocking the only access out and in to their farms and others drive ways just got washed out and they will need to get repaired. These farms will have to make new route to exit the farms through fields and pastures for awhile. There’s allot of work ahead to get all the roads fixed and some roads may just be temporarily fixed so farm machinery can get around for the planting season and farms can get in and out. So keep in mind when driving on some of the gravel roads around Barnes County to watch out and stay safe.